Tsonga Sends France To Final; Goffin Keeps Belgium Alive
Tsonga Sends France To Final; Goffin Keeps Belgium Alive
FRANCE 3, SERBIA 1
Lille, France (Outdoor Clay)
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga provided the heroics on Sunday afternoon in Lille, giving France an unassailable 3-1 lead in their Davis Cup semi-final tie against Serbia. The French No. 1 rallied past Dusan Lajovic 2-6, 6-2, 7-6(5), 6-2, claiming his 20th singles victory in his Davis Cup career.
Lajovic had stunned Lucas Pouille to open the tie on Friday, but was unable to replicate the upset. Tsonga prevailed after two hours and 48 minutes, firing 38 winners including eight aces. It was sweet revenge for Les Bleus, who were defeated by Serbia in the 2010 final.
Under the captaincy of Yannick Noah, the French squad will appear in its first final since 2014. They will bid for a 10th title against either Australia or Belgium. Should Australia prevail, the final will be contested Down Under. If Belgium wins, France are the hosts.
The French team will be looking to end a 16-year title drought, having most recently prevailed over Australia in the 2001 final, followed by runner-up finishes in 2002, 2010 and 2014.
BELGIUM 2, AUSTRALIA 2
Brussels, Belgium (Indoor Clay)
David Goffin led Belgium to the 2015 Davis Cup final and the World No. 12 is refusing to let a return trip slip through his grasp. Goffin overcame an early deficit to defeat Nick Kyrgios 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday in Brussels.
With the Belgians facing elimination following Saturday’s doubles win by John Peers and Jordan Thompson, their No. 1 forced a deciding rubber with the win after three hours and nine minutes. Goffin sealed the victory with an ace, his 20th of the match. He overcame an 0-3 FedEx ATP Head2Head deficit vs. Kyrgios, having fallen twice this year – at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 stops in Miami and Cincinnati.
Australia is playing its first Davis Cup tie on clay since 2014 and has dropped two straight encounters against Belgium leading into their semi-final clash. They will send out John Millman to face Steve Darcis in the fifth rubber.